You hear about it on commercials. You see your girl do it at night. Shelf after shelf at drugstores are lined with products singing its virtues. So you, Mr. Perplexed Male, might be asking: What the hell is exfoliation?

why men should exfoliate

Exfoliation is the process of scrubbing off dead skin cells to reveal and expose "younger," fresher skin. The shedding process unclogs pores, keeps skin clean and helps reduce acne breakouts. It's usually the first step in cleaning your face, to be followed by washing your face with soap (preferably one with hypoallergenic properties), and finally, moisturizing.

Unfortunately, many men wash exclusively with plain old hotel-grade soap. It's certainly enough to keep you clean, but it's not the best bet to keep your skin healthy. Indeed, bar soap dries out your skin, its ingredients sometimes clogging pores and leading to rougher skin in the long run.

Exfoliation also specifically helps men in a huge way: It exposes the face's hair follicles, allowing for a better shave. And we all know that a smoother shave is practically the holy grail of a man's morning ritual.

exfoliate part by part

Men have hair all over, and hair traps oil, dirt and grime. For men, there are three major areas in need of regular exfoliation: face, back and chest (exfoliating your feet and hands is great, but not essential).

Face

The skin on your face is quite different from that of a woman's. It contains larger pores, whiskers, more collagen and elastin (fibrous proteins that help hold everything together), a denser supply of blood vessels, and it produces more sweat. Put all these factors together and a guy's face can attract a fair amount of dirt.

So, the most important component of any good facial exfoliation routine is the cleanser/foamer. Brands that sell top-notch affordable cleansers include Clinique, Baxter of California and Nivea for Men.

Most of these products contain some combination of granulated pumice, sea salts, fruit seeds, salicylic acid, alpha-hydroxy acid, and beta hydroxy acid, all of which serve to loosen and slough off dead skin cells. Some even aid in the formation of collagen.

To get the most out of your exfoliating cleanser — and to help work it into a good lather — you should use one of the following methods of application.

Exfoliating gloves: OK, these reusable nylon gloves are more suitable for women, but they work. Just put them on and gently rub the cleanser around your face. The gloves' massaging motion will also improve circulation and open pores. Just keep in mind the fact that you use them on the down low.

Sponge: An abrasive sponge, or loofa (a sponge made from the dried fibrous part of the loofa plant), works the same way as gloves, but it has the advantage of whipping the exfoliating cleanser into a richer lather that gets deeper into the pores and the skin's upper layers.